Our Small Group Tours for Women
We’re offering four trips just for Women in 2026
We have a special commitment to our small group tours for women! When Charley and I started European Experiences in 2006, one of my personal goals was to help other women enjoy Europe the way she did. As a younger woman, I had always wanted to go to Europe but didn’t have anyone to go with. Finally, in 1991 just after Charley and I got engaged, I went with two women friends on a two-week, fast-paced trip. The next year the two of us went on our honeymoon to London, finally having found a life and travel partner… and the rest is history.
Cotswolds Women’s Week at Broughton Castle
I’ve now been traveling, living and working in Europe for 30+ years. I still travel often with Charley but also with our daughter Kelly and with women friends. And more frequently these days, I’m a solo traveler.
Although we love having men and couples in our groups, I’ve always had a personal mission to encourage and facilitate women to travel. As the father of three daughters, Charley shared this goal. With the addition of Jennifer Dugdale to our team in 2022, we expanded this focus. Jennifer has a special passion for women travel and has led many tours for groups of women.
We’ve now hosted more than 200 groups in different parts of Europe, including over 900 different women. Since 2002 we’ve hosted 25 small group tours for women. Women make up about two-thirds of our travelers, and many women have joined us for multiple trips over the years. Some women have been with us six, seven… even 13 times! Many women do come as part of a couple. But we’ve also had many solo women travelers. Mothers and daughters. Sisters. And women who’ve come with one or more women friends.
Mother/daughter – Friends – Sisters
We’ve always wanted to provide an experience that feels like traveling with friends. In our small groups, women form friendships, sometimes traveling together again in the future. We make personal connections with our travelers even before we meet in Europe at the start of a trip. When you join us, you will be traveling with friends!
Women find our small-group trips very comfortable and welcoming. They enjoy the connection with other women who are drawn to the same area, the activities included in our trip, the involvement with local people, and the personal connections within a small group. Our focus on a week in one place, usually in a village or small town in a beautiful area, is a unique experience. It’s safe.
Women’s Week – The Mediterranean Provence Experience
We’ve now expanded from our countryside-based trips to include four-night “Inside” trips based in cities. Our Inside Paris women’s trip is especially popular, since some women are unsure about spending time in a big city alone. Our city trips with our knowledgeable leader Jennifer and a small group of women travel companions makes the experience easy and comfortable.
Inside Paris Women’s group
All the rooms on our trips are double rooms. If you want to share a room with a friend or family member, we can offer twin beds. We can also try to match you with a roommate.
Many women prefer to have a room (and bathroom) of their own. We do need to charge extra for single occupancy of a double room, based on our hotel charges. We want to support solo women travelers, and we work to keep this differential reasonable. European Experiences usually subsidizes some of the additional cost for single occupancy.
Trips for Women in 2026
In our early years, we hosted several “Women’s Weeks,” special European Experiences trips just for women. Women travelers are always welcome on any of our trips, but we were delighted beginning in 2022 to once again offer several trips a year for women-only. These trips are designed for women traveling solo or with one or more friends or family members. And although our Women’s trips will have generally the same itinerary as our other trips to that same destination, there will likely be some special activities… and, of course, a special kind of camaraderie.
Luberon Experience Women’s Week – walk to Lacoste
Learn more about our special trips just for women below. (Most of these trips are also offered at other times during the year, trips that aren’t specifically designated for women only.) We’d love to have you join us!!
 | Inside Paris This four-night "insider's" experience in Paris will introduce you a more authentic Paris, including experiences not normally accessible to visitors. We'll explore French gastronomy and food history, art and architecture, and homes and gardens, often through the perspective of Parisian hosts. (Note: we won't visit the major tourist sites, so this is not intended as a traveler's first visit to Paris.) 2026 Dates: Oct 5-9 Women's trip (Mon-Fri) Prices: $2,950 per person, double occupancy; $3,300 single occupancy Leader: Jennifer Dugdale The trip can be paired with another European Experiences trip. Book with a 7-night trip and your transportation between the two locations will be included. |
 | The Luberon Experience The Luberon is an incredibly beautiful valley surrounded by low mountains and views in every direction. The authentic perched village of Bonnieux is the perfect base to experience the best of Provence. Our week includes perched villages, colorful outdoor markets, wineries, picnics, castle ruins and more. This trip was named one of National Geographic Traveler's 50 best tours in the world in 2012. 2026 Women's Week: Sept 26-Oct 3 Prices: $3,900 per person, double occupancy; $4,300 single occupancy Leader: Kathy Wood |
 | The Mediterranean Provence Experience This week is based in the waterfront village of Bandol in the protected, lesser-known western area of the French Riviera. The landscape features a mix of natural Provençal forests, rocky cliffs, coastal paths, discreet sandy coves, and the azur blue sea. Our week includes day trips to Marseille and Toulon, visits to coastal villages and vineyards, boat trips to enjoy the spectacular scenery, and much more. 2026 Women's Week: April 17 - 24 (Fri-Fri) Prices: $4,500 per person, double occupancy; $4,850 single occupancy. Leader: Jennifer Dugdale |
 | The Cotswolds Gardens Experience Based in the Chipping Campden, this Womens Week has been scheduled to include Chipping Campden's Open Gardens weekend. Many private gardens in the town will be open to the public, and it's a great opportunity to enjoy a variety of gardens. We'll also visit other noted Cotswolds gardens, including National Trust properties, large estates, smaller private gardens, an arboretum, and a lavender farm. We'll also enjoy other Cotswolds experiences such as picturesque villages, countryside walks, and wonderful meals in a variety of settings. 2026 Dates:June 19-26 (Fri-Fri) Prices: $3,900 per person, double occupancy; $4,300 single occupancy. Leader: Kathy Wood |
 | The Portugal Experience This Experience focuses on Northern Portugal, the oldest part of the Portuguese nation, offering us a wide diversity of cultural, historical, and religious sites; areas of natural beauty; and culinary traditions. Based in the charming town of Guimarães, we'll explore the Douro River valley and the Peneda-Gerês National Park, the city of Porto, and nearby towns and villages, including three boat trips. 2026 Dates: Sept 25-Oct 2 Womens Week (Fri to Fri) Prices: $4,500 per person, double occupancy; $4,850 single occupancy Leader: Jennifer Dugdale |
We’re always happy to talk with you by email, phone or video call. Email Kathy
Resources – Women’s Travel
From the JourneyWoman website (June 2024): Falling in Love with the Hilltop Villages of France’s Luberon… Again Writer Leyla Alaynak joined our Luberon Women’s Week in May 2024. She loved the Luberon… and her first experience on a small group tour!
From the JourneyWoman website (April 2021): How Shifting into Slow Travel Changed my Life (an article about Kathy, including a Q&A)
Kathy’s blog post (2011): The Special Camaraderie of an All-Women’s Tour
European Experiences is a proud sponsor of JourneyWoman, a leading website and online community for women travelers. JourneyWoman has recognized us as a woman-friendly business that understands the unique needs of women travelers. Kathy is a member of the JourneyWoman Advisory Council, a small group of women with special travel expertise. We are honored!
Virtual European Experience on April 8, 2021: a special program on European Travel for Women. The program includes short presentations by Kathy Wood, Jennifer Dugdale, and Carolyn Ray (editor-in-chief and publisher of JourneyWoman). The program also includes a panel of women travelers who share their experiences and suggestions.